Dillon’s vital goal for Sligo

AN injury-time goal from John Dillon gave Sligo Rovers a vital win over nine-man Shamrock Rovers in their absorbing Premier Division encounter at Tallaght Stadium last night.

The Hoops started brightly and in the ninth minute Rohan Ricketts placed a sublime ball over the retreating Jason McGuinness but Gary Twigg’s attempt rolled inches wide of the right-hand post.

Joseph Ndo was instrumental in much of Sligo’s early play and the Cameroonian almost broke the deadlock after 18 minutes when a cross-shot drifted over Ryan Thompson but rebounded to safety off the right-hand upright.

On 28 minutes, Karl Sheppard headed wastefully over from another Ricketts corner as the league leaders gradually began to settle after their inauspicious start.

However, most of the attacking threat lay with the Westerners and they should have taken the lead in the 32nd minute when Eoin Doyle evaded Craig Sives to meet Richie Ryan’s left-wing cross but, under pressure from both Dan Murray and Thompson, the centre-forward blazed wide from seven yards.

Ricketts, Ronan Finn and Twigg then combined for the former to shoot narrowly over in injury time.

The second half continued in a similarly exciting vein and the Hoops were denied an opening goal four minutes in when Brendan Clarke produced an inspired save, diving to his right to tip Chris Turner’s headed effort over his crossbar.

The game appeared to swing in Sligo’s favour when referee Damien Hancock issued a controversial second yellow card to Pat Sullivan on the hour but, within a minute of Sullivan’s departure, the champions eked out the lead with a goal of the highest quality.

Ricketts outfoxed Raffaele Cretaro down the left and his floated cross was met superbly by Twigg, who powered an unstoppable header beyond Clarke.

Midway through the half, the hosts rode their luck once again with Stephen Rice clearing off the line from Ryan after Thompson had done superbly to thwart substitute Matthew Blinkhorn with a brave block.

After substitute Billy Dennehy was denied a goal on the counter-attack in the 79th minute, Sligo deservedly drew level when Ndo and Blinkhorn combined to release John Russell, who curled a rising drive beyond the outstretched reach of Thompson.

With Pat Flynn dismissed for a crude hack on Iarflaith Davoren in the 89th minute, the visitors took full advantage when Ndo found an unmarked Dillon at the far post and the substitute’s header breathed fresh life into Sligo’s title ambitions.

SHAMROCK ROVERS: Thompson; Sullivan, Sives, Murray, Paterson; Sheppard (Flynn 85) , Rice, Turner, Finn, Ricketts (Dennehy 67); Twigg (Kilduff 66).

SLIGO ROVERS: Clarke; Cretaro (Keane 66), Peers, McGuinness, Davoren; Ndo, Ryan, Ventre (Dillon 46), Greene (Blinkhorn 54); Russell, Doyle.

Referee: Damien Hancock (Dublin).